CHRONICLEWATCH / Working for a better Bay Area

Ulysses Torassa

Published 4:00 am, Thursday, December 1, 2005

WHAT'S IN THE WORKS

Toppled light pole in Richmond: About six weeks ago, ChronicleWatch tipster Helen Sommers of Richmond noticed that the light standard at the corner of Robert Miller and Hillview drives was broken off at the base and tossed into the bushes across the street. In its place, an orange cone covered a hole in the sidewalk. "We just came home one day and it was like that," she said. "It's really dark there now, and it's hard to see the turnoff onto Hillview." Sommers is also concerned that the pole left lying there is a hazard, especially for pedestrians who walk along Robert Miller going to and from the busy Hilltop Mall. "Someone could really hurt themselves on that thing," she said. Status: We contacted Richmond City Manger Bill Lindsay, who put us in touch with Ralph Lloyd, the city's electrical supervisor. He said the pole was apparently knocked down in a hit-and-run accident, which left it in the roadway. City crews initially moved it off the pavement, waiting for equipment to arrive that could haul the pole away. They wanted to salvage the fixture so it could be repaired and replaced, rather than have to order a new one, he said. Unfortunately, the city truck capable of hauling it was broken and needed repairs until now. On Tuesday, crews hauled the pole away. Lloyd said he hopes it will be back in place and working by Friday or early next week.